I want to start my first diorama and don't know what kind of material to use for the base. Should I use wood, plywood, or foam board. I would appreciate any info, like the thickness of materials and prepping it for the groundwork.Thanks

Hi Paul. Welcome to Armorama. Hope you enjoy your visits and find this site helpful. An excallent site for beginners and indeed those at it for a while is Doc´s Dios . Great step by step guides with loads of pictures and very useful tips. Also just surfing throught the dio forum here you will find lots of very useful information. If there is something you need more info or help with, just ask the question. The more specific question will get better answers. And is said lots of times .. the only silly question is the one that isn´t asked!

I just go to a micheals craft store and buy the unfinished plaques for awards. Only $2 and just the right size. Made of wood.

HastyP

Or you can use the old favorite of a cheap picture frame. Make sure the glass is in real tight (or can replace with wood) then fill in your groundwork ontop of it. I have put styrofoam and plaster directly on top of the glass and it has stick on fine. Then you can use cheap acrylic hobby paints to color it, scribe details into the plaster (with a nail) etc for a street/sidewalk or use white glue to stick sand/dirt/rocks/kitter litter/static grass for a rural scene. Regular wallboard plaster does shrink alot so be prepared to patch up some cracks, but it dries quick so it take no time at all.

Another excellent source is going to thrift shops – Goodwill, Am-Vet etc. – you can find great plaques, frames very cheap, and do not forget to look at those hardwood candy dishes and bowls... Flipped over they make great bases… they can be filled with plaster to add weight or cut into to great trenches or varying terrain.

I also use good, old 3/4 plywood and extent the terrain right over the edge, covering it completely… whether concrete or block or earth. It can be used as part of the presentation of the diorama.

Good luck!
John
www.johnneill.com

hi, Usually I use a wooden board, After chosen the right size and thikness I start to(if you want a hill) make with wire netting the right hight. Then I start to put a layer of thick gypsum on it. If it is still wet you scetter some sand or static grass on it and put some tracks of a tank in it. The important thing is that you have a scheme or intention of the dio you gonna make. And 1 thing: It looks easyer than it is. Good Luck!!!

Laurie

As mentioned above Thrift stores are great for bases of all sorts. I look for the wooden kitchen towel dispensers. Remove the wooden dowels from them and you have a nice size round base. I find they are great for displaying a 1/6th scale figure and would be ideal for a smaller scale display base.

Plasticbattle, the site you recomended (docdio.com) is great I got a good idea for my base from it

I recommend a solid base material - wood, plywood - something of that nature. The guys who have posted previously have mentioned Great ideas. I have used a bunch of them.

One thing I would like to offer is to pay attention to the edges. A nice rounded over or angled edge with a touch of stain makes a 'complete' project. The frame idea above 'forces' this but some of the wood options do not (Micheals does).

So as you plan your diorama - take the extra time and plan the base - you'll love it when its done.